Manuel re

ABSTRACT

1. A RECLINING CHAIR ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN CLOSE ADJACENCY TO AND FORWARDLY OF A ROOM WALL WHEN IN THE UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION AND YET SO STRUCTURED AS TO ALLOW READY ASSUMPTION OF A RECLINED POSITION WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE SAME ROOM WALL, THE RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING, A BASE, A CHASSIS, A BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT AND A LEG-SUPPORTING UNIT, MEANS MOUNTING THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT ON THE CHASSIS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN UPRIGHT AND RECLINING POSITIONS, MEANS MOUNTING THE CHASSIS ON THE BASE FOR LINEAR MOVEMENTS RELATIVE TO THE BASE AS THE BODYSUPPORTING UNIT IS MOVED, MEANS MOUNTING THE LEG-SUPPORTTING UNIT ON THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT FOR MOVEMENTS BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS CONCOMITANT WITH MOVEMENTS OF THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY-CONNECTING THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT AND BASE FOR MOVING THE CHASSIS FORWARDLY AND PROGRESSIVELY AWAY FROM THE WALL AND THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT RELATIVE TO THE WALL AS TRANSITION IS MADE FROM UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION TO POSITION OF RECLINATION, AND FOR MOVING THE CHASSIS REARWARDLY AND PROGRESSIVELY TOWARD THE WALL AND THE BODY-SUPPORTDING UNIT RELATIVE TO THE WALL AS TRANSITION IS MADE FROM POSITION OF RECLINATION TO UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION.

Oct. 22, 1914 Original Filed Feb. 1.

F. MANUEL RE aacmunm CHAIR 11 Shah-Shoot 1 FIG.2.

FIG.3.

11 Shuts-Shut s ONnNNN F. MANUEL RE nscmunm cluun Oct. 22, 1974 OriginalFiled Feb. 1. 1972 F. MANUEL RE Re. 28,210

nzcuame can:

Oct. 22, 1974 11 Shaw-Shoot 4 Original Filed Feb.

Oct. 22, 1914 MANUEL E RG. 28, 210

RECLINIHG CHAIR I \L I F. MANUEL RE 233319 RECLIRING CHAIR Oct. 22, 197411 Sh tn-Shoot 5 Original Filed Feb. 1. 1972 FIG.8.

FlG.9.

F. MANUEL RE Re. 28,210

RECLINING CHAIR Oct. 22, 1974 11 Shah-Shoot Original Filed Feb. 1, 1972FIG.

FIG. l3.

Oct. 22, 1974 F. MANUEL RE RECLINING CHAIR 11 Shuts-Shut Q OriginalFiled Feb. 1, 1972 FIG. l4.

F. MANUEL RE Re. 28,210

RBCLINIIIG CHAIR Oct. 22, 1974 11 Shun-Shut 2;

Original Filed Feb. 1. 1972 mu e F. MANUEL RE Re. 28,210

RECLINING CHAIR Oct. 22, 1974 11 Shootn-Shoot 10 Original Filed Feb. 1.1972 QQI F. MANUEL RE Re. 28,210

RECLINING CHAIR Oct. 22, 1974 11 Shun-Shut 11 Original Filed Feb. 1,1972 United States Patent Int. Cl. A47c 1/02 US. Cl. 297-83 ClaimsMatter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reclining chair adapted to be positioned inclose adjacency to a room wall when in the upright sitting position andyet so structured as to allow ready assumption of any of a variety ofreclined positions of occupancy without physical contact of any elementthereof with the same room wall, the chair concept envisioning a fixedplatform, a chassis movable linearly relative to the plat form, and abody-supporting unit movable between the sitting and reclining positionsrelative to the chassis with a concomitant movement of a leg supportingunit between the retractcd and extended positions respectively, apropeller link or other means connecting between the body-supportingunit and platform for propelling the bodysnpporting unit relative to theplatform, with the chassis moving forwardly and progessively away fromthe wall as transition is made from upright sitting position toprogrcssive positions of reclination, wherefore the body sup portingunit is concomitantly moved forwardly away from the room wall, and withthe chassis moving rearwardly and progressively toward the wall astransition is made from positions of reclination to upright sittingposition, wherefore the body-supporting unit is concomitantly movedrearwardly and toward the room wall.

The invention provides a reclining chair which can be positioned inclose proximity to a wall or lamp or other article of furniture.

It has long been a problem in the reclining chair art that the chair ofnecessity had to be placed a sufficient distance away from the wall orarticle of furniture as to allow movement of part of the body-supportingunit in the area rearwardly of the vertical plane of the rear legs ofthe chair, the unit, and more particularly the back thereof, movingrearwardly in the course of any shifting between upright and anyreclined positions.

The problem is here solved by the provision of means for moving thebody-supporting unit forwardly relative to the platform and away fromthe wall as reclination ensues wherefore the chair can be positioned inclose proximity to a wall.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1-3 are schematic representations of a chair embodying one form ofthe invention showing the positions of the several chair componentsrelative to a wall as the chair is moved from an upright sittingposition first to a partially-reclined position and then to afully-reclined position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, in longitudinal section, of the chair ofFIGS. l-3 in upright, sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the chair in intermediatereclined or TV position;

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the chair in fully-reclinedposition;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in cross-section on line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

Re. 28,210 Reissued Oct. 22, 1974 "ice FIGS. 8-10 are fragmentary views,in longitudinal section, of a chair embodying a first modified form ofthe invention, with the leg rest and reclining mechanism omitted forsimplicity, the chair being shown in upright, intermediate reclined, andfully-reclined positions respectively;

FIGS. 11-13 are fragmentary views, similar to FIGS. 8-10, of a chairembodying a second modified form of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view, in longitudinal section, of a chairembodying a third modified form of the invention, the chair being shownin upright, sitting position;

FIG. 15 is a view, similar to FIG. 14, showing the chair in intermediatereclined or TV position;

FIG. 16 is a view, similar to FIG. 14, showing the chair infully-reclined position;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view, in longitudinal section, of a portion ofthe chair of FIG. 14, with parts omitted for simplicity;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, in end elevation, of theportion of the chair of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, in top plan, of the portion ofthe chair of FIG. 17.

Referring first to FIGS. l-3, chairs of the type envisioned having aplatform B and a chassis M mounting a body-supporting unit D (i.e., seatand back which may be unitary a to each other or shiftable with respectto each other) and a leg supporting unit L, are shiftable between anupright sitting position where little, if any, of the body supportingunit is disposed in an area rearwardly of the vertical plane of therearwardly disposed legs or of the rearwardrnost portion of theplatform, and various positions of reclination where some portion of thebody supporting unit is disposed in that area. This being so, chairsheretofore known have had to be positioned distantly of a room wall W ifreclination was to be accomplished successfully and without physicalcontact being had between chair and wall.

If positioning close to a wall was desired, the chair would have to bewithdrawn away therefrom in order to allow successful reclination.

With the chair hereof, as body-supporting unit D is reclined, chassis Cmoves linearly relative to platform B away from wall W to provide thenecessary clearance for the body-supporting unit as the chair elementsmove between the upright position of FIG. 1 and the partially reclinedposition of FIG. 2 and/or the fully-reclined position of FIG. 3.

In the form of the invention seen in FIGS. 4-7, platform B comprisespairs of front and rear legs 10 and 12 respectively disposed at eachside of the chair and interconnected by side rails 14 extending in afront-to-rcar chair direction and by transversely-extending cross-rails16 interconnecting the side rails in known manner.

A vertically-oriented slotted plate 18 is fixed to each side rail 14 asby screws or bolts 20, extends upwardly therefrom, and is provided witha pair of spaced, generally horizontally-extending, aligned, front andrear slots 22 and 24 respectively. The forwardly-facing extremity ofeach slot serves as a small rise, indicated by 23 and 25 respectively,for purposes to appear.

Chassis C includes a pair of spaced, upright side walls 26 of anyconventional configuration and disposed at each side of the chair, eachside wall carrying a chair arm 28.

Body-supporting D includes a seat 30 and a back 32, which may beunitary, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, or which may be separable, as will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 14-19.

The means interconnecting platform B, chassis C, bodysupporting unit Dand leg-supporting unit L includes a pair of linkage mechanisms, therebeing one at each side of the body-supporting unit inwardly of therespective adjacent side wall of the chassis so as to be concealed fromview. Only one such linkage mechanism is herein defined, they beingidentical for all practical purposes, one being a right hand and onebeing a left hand mechanism. Such mechanism could be of the typesdisclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,044,827 of July 17, 1962, No. 3,058,774 ofOct. 16, 1962, or No. 3,166,352 of Jan. 19, 1965, to name but a few, ortheir kinematic equivalents, for purpose of exemplification.

A generally horizontally-disposed base plate 34, extending along thefront-to-rear chair axis, is stationarily fixed as by bolts 36 and nuts38 to a cross rail or stretcher 40 which extends transversely relativeto and between chassis side walls 26, and is fixed at its opposite endsto a plate 42 mounted on each side wall as by screws or bolts 44.

Leg supporting unit L may be of the one-part type or of the two-parttype, as shown herein. The two-part type is constituted by a large footstool 46 and a small foot stool 48 pivotally interconnected. The legsupporting unit,

whichever its type, is mounted, by means of said linkage mechanisms,relative to the forward area of seat 30, for constrained movementsbetween a fully-retracted position, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, and afully-extended position, as viewed in FIGS. 3, and 6.

With the chair in fully upright position, the leg supporting unit is infully-retracted position with large footstool 46 positionedsubstantially flush with or in the vertical plane of the forward end ofseat 30 and with the cooperant pivotally connected small footstool 48extending rearwardly from adjacent the lower extremity of the largefootstool so as to be concealed from view below the seat and rearwardlyof the large footstool. When large footstool 46 is elevated and advancedto an extended position,

cooperant small footstool 48 is moved therewith accordingly and isplaced in an axially-aligned position forwardly thereof.

The body-supporting unit and the leg supporting unit are operativelyconnected to base plate 34 and to each other.

A seat plate 50 extends along the front-to-rear chair axis and isstationarily secured to the adjacent side rail of seat 30 as by screwsor bolts 52.

A pivot link 54 is pivoted at 56 at its lower end to the rearward end ofthe base plate 34 and at its upper end at 58 to seat plate 50 adjacentthe rearward end of the latter.

A rise bar 60 is pivoted adjacent its rearward end at 62 to theapproximate midsection of base plate 34, and is pivoted adjacent itsforward end at 64, (see FIG. 6), to an L-link 66.

L-link 66 is pivoted at 68 at its upper end to seat plate 50 and ispivoted at its lower end at 70 to one end of a slotted link 72 and tothe rearward end of a first long link 74.

Slotted link 72 is pivoted at 76 at its opposite end to the forward endof base plate 34 and has a slot 78 there in adjacent its forward end inwhich pivot 70 is slidable.

First long link 74 is pivoted at its approximate midsection at 80 to theapproximate midsection of a first elevator link 82 and is pivoted at itsforward end at 84 to the rearward end of a second elevator link 86.

First elevator link 82 is pivoted at its upper end at 88 to seat plate50 adjacent the forward end thereof and is pivoted at its lower end at90 to the lower rearward end of a second long link 92.

Second elevator link 86 is pivoted at its approximate midsection at 94to the approximate midsection of sec ond long link 92 and is pivoted atits lower end at 96 to the lower rearward end of a small foot stool link98.

Second long link 92 is pivoted at its forward end at 100 to one end of alarge foot stool support plate 102 to which large foot stool 46 isfixed; large foostoool support plate 102 is pivoted at its opposite endat 104 to a small footstool support plate 106 to which small footstool48 is fixed.

Ill)

ill

Small footstool link 98 is pivoted at its forward end at 108 to smallfootstool support plate 106 and is pivoted at 110 rearwardly of itsforward end to the lower end of a connecting link 112 which is pivotedat its opposite end at 114 to large footstool support plate 102.

A buffer-retainer tension spring 116 is mounted at one end on slottedlink 72 and is mounted at its opposite end on first long link 74, thespring acting much in the manner of a buffing device to buffer chairtilting as it approaches fullyrcclined position and additionally toinsure that the leg-supporting unit remains retracted when the chair isin upright position.

The functions of slotted link 72 are three-fold: 1) it serves as acarrier for the buffer-retainer spring 116; 2) it precludes reclining ofthe chair without a concomitant extension of the leg-supporting unit;and 3) it precludes retraction of the leg-supporting unit while thechair is in fully-reclined position.

A stop pin 118 on seat plate 50, when contacted by a leading edge ofL-link 66, limits the range of outward movement of the leg-supportingunit.

A first stop surface 120 of rise bar 60, when it contacts base plate 34,limits the range of downward movement of the body-supporting unit.

In the chair upright position, second long link 92 abuts first long link74 to limit the range of rearward movement of the leg-supporting unit,with a fiat 93 on the rearwardly-facing face of link 92 being receivablein a notch 75 on the forwardly-facing face of link 74.

In use, when the chair is moved from upright position to an intermediatereclining position, rise bar 60 remains in a generally horizontalposition, with first stop surface 120 thereof in contact with base plate34, and with the large and small foot stools extended, the ease of suchextension being controlled by spring 116, While L-link 66 contacts stoppin 118 to preclude further leg-supporting unit extension.

When the chair is moved from intermediate reclined position, to a fullyreclined position, rise bar 60 pivots at 62 relatively to base plate 34,pivot pin 70 moves forwardly in slot 78 of slotted link 72 to precludeclosing of thc leg-supporting unit while in the fully reclined position,and a second stop surface 122 of rise bar 60 contacts base plate 34 tolimit the range of reclining movement of the body-supporting unit.

Chassis C is slidably related to base B by means of front and rearrollers and 132 respectively which extend outwardly from plate 42 ateach side wall 26 of the chassis, front roller 130 being rideable infront slot 22 of plate 18 and rear roller 132 being rideable in rearslot 24 therein.

The rises 23 and 25, together with spring 116 control or lessen anyfalling sensation as reclining takes place, it being understood that thegreater the upward slope of each rise, the more difficult forwardmovement of the chassis becomes.

In the chair upright position of FIG. 4, the rollers are disposed at therear ends of their respective slots 22 and 24.

As the body-supporting unit is moved to the intermediate recliningposition of FIG. 5, the rollers slide along the slots to a positionwherein they are disposed somewhat forwardly of the approximatemidsections of the slots.

Movement of the body-supporting unit to fullyreclined position moves therollers to the forward extremities of the slots as shown in FIG. 6, withthe rises 23 and 25 and spring 116 controlling such movement asaforesaid.

A propeller link 134, pivoted at its upper end at 136 to backrest 32 andat its lower end at 138 to plate 18, propels and controls the range ofmovement of the bodysupporting unit relative to the platform.

The key to the invention is in propeller link 134 for it propels thebody-supporting unit and chassis forwardly as reclination occurs, aswell as rearwardly on assuming the upright position, with the rollers130 and 132 riding in the slots 22 and 24 respectively.

In the chair upright position roller 132 rests in a slight recess orgroove 24' provided adjacent the rearward end of slot 24, the grooveserving as an impediment to unwanted sudden sliding movement of theroller relative to the slot.

In effect, in movement from upright to intermediate position, the rearroller must be lifted out of groove 24' with the chassis rotating aboutfront roller 130 as reclination occurs.

The single propeller link 134 of FIGS. 1-7 is replaced in the modifiedform of FIGS. 8-10 by trio of links.

The leg-supporting unit and reclining linkage have been omitted in FIGS.8-10 for purposes of simplicity.

Herein, a primary propeller link 234 is pivoted at its upper end at 236to one end of a secondary propeller link 240 and at its lower end at 238to plate 18, with secondary propeller link 240 being pivoted at itsopposite end at 242 to the rearward end of base plate 34.

A control link 244 is pivoted at one end at 246 to backrest 32 and atits opposite end at 248 to the approximate midsection of primarypropeller link 234.

The trio of links operates directly on the chassis through theconnection 242 with base plate 34, while operating on thebody-supporting unit through control link 244, wherefore linearmovements of the chassis and body-supporting units relative to theplatform are effected.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11-13, the leg-supporting unit and reclininglinkage have once again been omitted for simplicity.

In this form of the invention, the propelling means comprises a roller334 fixed to backrest 32 and rideable in a cam slot 336 provided in anextension 338 of plate 18.

As reclination occurs, the captured roller drives the chassis andbody-supporting unit forwardly. On assuming the upright position thechassis and body-supporting unit is driven rearwardly.

The somewhat dog-leg shape of slot 336 provides a dwell for theintermediate reclining or TV position as shown in FIG. 12.

The embodiment of FIGS. 14-19 has been modified for use with a chair ofthe type having a separable seat and back.

In this instance a double-track system is employed, such a system beingnecessary since, with chairs of this type, the components travel fartheraway from the wall. Thus, a double track was designed so that all of thesliding means would be under cover of the chair.

Basically, however, the sliding and motivating means are the same asthose shown for use with the unitary seat and back chair of FIGS. 1-13.

Herein, a platform B supports a chassis C mounting a body-supportingunit D and a leg-supporting unit L.

The means interconnecting platform B, chassis C, body-upporting unit Dand leg-supporting unit L includes a pair of linkage mechanisms, therebeing one at each side of the body-supporting unit inwardly of therespective adjacent side wall of the chassis so as to be concealed fromview. Only one such linkage mechanism is herein defined, they beingidentical for all practical purposes, one being a right hand and onebeing a left hand mechanism.

The mechanism shown is identical to that shown and described in my U.S.Pat. No. 3,137,521 of June 16, 1964. However, it could be of any of thetypes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,201 of Dec. 18, 1962, or No.3,166,- 353 of Jan. 19, 1965 or No. 3,359,034 of Dec. 19, 1967, to namebut a few, or their kinematic equivalents, for purposes ofexemplification.

Since the mechanism is described in detail in the aforementioned U.S.Pat. No. 3,137,521, such detailed description will not be repeated here.

As body-supporting unit D is inclined, chassis C moves linearly relativeto platform B away from a wall, not shown, to provide the necessaryclearance for the body-supporting unit relative to the wall as the chairelements move between the upright position of FIG. 14 and the partiallyreclined position of FIG. 15 and/or the fully-reclined position of FIG.16.

In the form of the invention seen in FIGS. 14-19, platform B comprisespairs of front and rear legs 410 and 412 respectively disposed at eachside of the chair and interconnected by side rails 414 extending in afrontto-rear chair direction and by transversely-extending cross-bars416 interconnecting the side rails in known manner.

Chassis C includes a pair of spaced, upright side walls 426 of anyconventional configuration and disposed at each side of the chair, eachside wall additionally constituting a chair arm.

Body-supporting unit D includes a seat 430' and a back 432, which areseparable, as shown.

As part of the reclining mechanism, generally horizontally-disposed baseplate 434, extending along the front-to-rear chair axis, is stationarilyfixed as by a bolt 436 to one of a pair of cross bars 440 extendingtransversely relative to and between chassis side walls 426, the crossbars being fixed at their opposite ends to a plate 442 mounted on eachside wall. Screws or bolts 444 attach base plate 434 to plate 442.

Leg supporting unit L may be of the one-part type or of the two-parttype, as shown herein. The two-part type is constituted by a large footstool 446 and a small foot stool 448 pivotally interconnected. The legsupporting unit, whichever its type, is mounted, by means of saidlinkage mechanisms, relative to the forward area of seat 430, forconstrained movements between a fully-retracted position, as viewed inFIG. 14 and a fully-extended position, as viewed in FIGS. 15 and 16.

A rise base 460 pivoted at 462 to base plate 434 serves as the primarymeans of interconnection between the leg-supporting unit,body-supporting unit and chassis.

A back-link 464 is fixed at one end as by screws 466 to back 432 and ispivoted at its opposite end at 468 to seat 430, to interconnect the seatand back.

A pivot link 470 pivoted at one end at 472 to link 464 is pivoted at itslower end at 474 to base plate 434 to further interconnect thebody-supporting unit and chassis.

A first vertically-oriented slotted plate 420 is fixed to each side rail414, extends upwardly therefrom, and is provided with a pair of spaced,generally horizontallyextending, aligned, front and rear slots 422 and424 respectively.

A second vertically-oriented slotted plate 480 is disposed inwardly ofand in spaced parallelism to first slotted plate 420 and is providedwith a pair of spaced, generally horizontally-extending, aligned frontand rear slots 482 and 484 respectively, which slots are disposed abovethe plane of slots 422 and 424 of first plat 420.

A first set of front and rear rollers 425 and 427 respectively isprovided, with front roller 425 being rideable in front slot 422, andwith rear roller 427 being rideable in rear slot 424.

The front rollers 425 at each side of the chair are interconnected by across rod 425' and the rear rollers 427 are interconnected by a crossrod 427', the cross rods extending through the adjacent second slottedplates 480.

A second set of front and rear rollers 486 and 488 respectively extendsoutwardly from plate 442 with front roller 486 being rideable in frontslot 482, and with rear roller 488 being rideable in rear slot 484.

As the body-supporting unit is reclined, the chassis slides relative tothe base in two stages: to the position shown in FIG. 15, wherein thesecond set of rollers 486 and 488 slides to the forward ends of slots482 and 484 of second plate 480; and to the position shown in FIG. 16,wherein the first set of rollers 425 and 427 slides to the forward endsof slots 422 and 424 of first plate 420.

In the first stage of movement, from upright to intermediate positionthe chassis and both plates 420 and 480 remain stationary, with plate442 moving to carry the body-supporting unit forwardly as the rollers486 and 488 ride in their respective slots 482 and 484.

In the second stage of movement from intermediate to fully-reclinedposition, the chassis and plate 480 are moved forward relative to thestationary plate 420, with the rollers 425 and 427 riding in theirrespective slots 422 and 424.

Of course, these operations are reversed when the bodysupporting unit isreturned from fully-reclined position to upright position.

A propeller link 490, pivoted at its upper end at 492 to link 464 and atits lower end at one of the cross bars 416 to the platform propels andcontrols the range of movement of the body-supporting unit relative tothe platform.

The propeller link 490 propels the body-supporting unit and chassisforwardly as reclination occurs, as well as rearwardly on assuming theupright position, with the two sets of rollers riding in the two sets ofslots.

Of course, the modified propeller means of FIGS. 8-13 could be employedin lieu of the single propeller link 490.

Plate 442 is unconstrained. Thus, it is possible that the chassis couldmove relative to slots 422 and 424 before plate 442 moves relative toslots 482 and 484.

However, this contingency can be avoided by the simple expedients ofextending a spring, not shown, between plates 420 and 480, or by placinga slight groove or depression, also not shown, at the rearward extremityof groove 424, whereby a slight restraint is placed on roller 427.

While rollers ricleable in slots have been described and shown, it willbe understood that any appropriate slide means may interconnect theseveral chair components.

I claim:

1. A reclining chair adapted to be positioned in close adajacency to andforwardly of a room wall when in the upright sitting position and yet sostructured as to allow ready assumption of a reclined position withoutphysical contact with the same room wall, the reclining chaircomprising, a base, a chassis, a body-supporting unit and aleg-supporting unit. means mounting the body-supporting unit on thechassis for movement betwen upright and reclining positions, meansmounting the chassis on the base for linear movements relative to thebase as the bodysupporting unit is moved, means mounting theleg-supporting unit on the body-supporting unit for movements betweenretracted and extended positions concomitant with movements of thebody-supporting unit, and means operatively-connecting thebody-supporting unit and base for moving the chassis forwardly andprogressively away from the wall and the body-supporting unit relativeto the wall as transition is made from upright sitting position toposition of reclination, and for moving the chassis rearwardly andprogressively toward the wall and the body-supporting unit relative tothe wall as transition is made from position of reclination to uprightsitting position.

[2. A reclining chair according to claim 1, wherein the means mountingthe chassis on the base comprises a plate on the base and means on thechassis rideable in the plate] [3. A reclining chair according to claim2, wherein the plate includes a pair of horizontally-disposed slots andthe means on the chassis rideable relative to the plate comprises a pairof rollers] [4. A reclining chair according to claim 3, wherein theslots are provided with rises for controlling the speed and ease offorward linear movement of the chassis relative to base] [5. A recliningchair according to claim 1, wherein the operatively-connecting meanscomprises a link extending between the body-supporting unit and base][6. A reclining chair according to claim 1, wherein theoperatively-connecting means comprises a trio of links connectingbetween the chassis and body-supporting unit and base] [7. In a reclinerchair, the combination of, a horizontally-disposed base,

a chassis movable linearly forwardly and rearwardly relative to thebase,

a body supporting means including a seat and back and leg rest,

means mounting the body supporting means relative to the chassis formovements between an upright position and a plurality of recliningpositions with the rearwardmost portion of the back travelling throughhorizontal axes of the substantially vertical planes perpendicular tothe perpendicular base, and

means effecting linear movement of the chassis on the base responsivelyto and simultaneously with movement of the body supporting means on thechassis] [8. In a recliner chair, the combination of, a base,

a chassis movable linearly forwardly and rearwardly relative to thebase,

a recliner unit including seat and back and leg supporting elements,

means mounting the recliner unit on the chassis for effecting movementsbetween an upright position with the rearwardmost portion of the backbeing disposed in a rearmost vertical plane forwardly of a fixedvertical plane of such as a well and a plurality of reclining positionswith the rearwardmost portion of the back being disposed in verticalplanes each forwardly of the fixed vertical plane, and

means effecting movement of the chassis on the base responsively to andsimultaneous with movement of the recliner unit on the chassis] [9. In arecliner chair, the combination of,

a base,

a chassis moveable linearly forwardly and rearwardly relative to thebase,

a recliner unit including a seating element and a back supportingelement and a leg supporting element,

means mounting the recliner unit relative to the chassis for movementsbetween an upright position and a plurality of reclining positions whilethe rearwardmost portion of the back supporting element travels throughsubstantially vertical planes relative to the base in concert withforward movement of the seat with each vertical plane being forwardly ofthe vertical plane assumed by the rearwardmost portion of the backsupporting element in the upright position] means allowing movement ofthe chassis on the base responsively to movement of the recliner unit.

[10. A recliner chair comprising:

a base unit,

a chassis mounted for shiftable movement on the base unit between arearwardmost position and a position forwardly of the rearwardmostposition.

a body supporting unit inclusive of a back and seat swingable between anupright sitting position and a reclination position, and

constraining means for mounting the body supporting unit relative to thechassis and effecting shifting of the body supporting unit between thesitting and reclination positions with the back and seat being swingablein respective arcs in accordance with movements of the chassis on thebase unit] 11. An occupant-operated living room type reclining chairpositionable anywhere on a floor of a room and free of attachment to thefloor and in close adjacency t0 and forwardly of an object when inupright sitting position and yet so constructed as to allow readyassumption of any reclined position free of physical contact with thesame object and comprising: a base resting on the floor free ofpermanent attachment to the floor, a chassis supported relative to thebase, a body-supporting subassembly including a seat and back, aleg-supporting subassembly, and linkage mechanismoperatively-interconnecting the bod)- supporting subassembly andleg-supporting subassembly and chassis and base for, first concurrentmoving:

a. the body-supporting subassembly rearwardly relative to the chassis,b. the leg-supporting subassembly between retracted and extendedpositions, and c. the chassis relative to the base and progressivelyforwardly away from the object, as transition is made from uprightsitting position to a position of reclination by the occupant leaningbackwardly against the back and the exerting of a forwardly-pushingforce against the chassis, and for, second, concurrently moving:

a. the body-supporting subassembly forwardly relative to the chassis, b.the leg-supporting subassembly between extended and retracted positions,and c. the chassis relative to the base and progressively rearwardlytoward the object, as tranistion is made from a position of reclinationto upright sitting position by the occupant leaning forwardly away fromthe back and the evcerting of a downwardlypushing force against theleg-support, with any movement upright sitting andintermediate-television and full-reclined positions and positionableanywhere on a floor of a room and free of attachment to the floor and inclose adjacency to a wall when in upright sitting position and yet sostructured as to allow ready assumption of intermediatetelevision andfully-reclined positions free of contact with the wall comprising: abase, a chassis, a body-supporting subassembly including a unitary seatand back, a legsupporting subassembly, linkage mechanism for effectingautomatic movement of the body-supporting subassembly between uprightand intermediate and reclined positions concomitant with movement of theleg-supporting subassembly between retracted and extended positionsrespectively and for eflecting movement of both the chassis andbody-supporting subassembly relative to the base in one directionresponsively to and simultaneously with movement of the body-supportingsubassembly relative to the chassis in counter direction.

13. A reclining chair adapted to be movable on a floor of a room andinto close adjacency to and forwardly of an object when in uprightsitting position and yet so structured as to allow ready assumption of areclining position free of physical contact with the same object, thereclining chair, comprising: a base, a chassis, a bodysupporting unitincluding a seat and back and leg-support, and linkage mechanismoperatively-interconnecting the body-supporting unit and chassis andbase for concurrently moving the chassis relative to the base andforwardly and progressively away from the object and the bod'-supporting unit rearwardly relative to the chassis and the leg-supportof the body-supporting unit from rctracted to an extended position astransition is made from upright sitting to reclination positions and forconcurrently moving the chassis relative to the base rearwardly andprogressively toward the object and the body-supporting unit forwardlyrelative to the chassis and the legsupport of the body supporting unitfrom an extended to retracted position as transition is made fromreclination to upright sitting positions.

14. A reclining chair adapted to be positioned on a floor moreparticularly in close adjacency to and forwardly of an object when inupright sitting position and yet so structured as to allow readyassumption of a reclining position without physical contact with thesame object, the reclining chair comprising: a base, a chassis, aunitary seat and back, a leg-supporting unit, roller means disposedbetween and fixed to one of the chassis and base, and linkage mechanismoperatively-interconnecting the seat and back and leg-supporting unitand chassis and base for concurrently propelling the chassis relative tothe base and forwardly and progressively away from the object and theseat rearwardly relative to the chassis and the leg-supporting unit fromretracted to an extended position as transition is made from uprightsitting position to a position of reclination responsively to animpelling force generated by the occupant upon the chasss in onedirection with a resultant reaction of the seat relative to the chassisin a counter direction.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,794 12/1957 Hendrickson et a]. 297-3423,433,527 3/ 1969 Re 297-85 2,102,979 12/1937 Smith 297-318 X 3,427,0722/ 1969 Hale 297-342 1,911,129 5/1933 Wasserberg 297-38 3,329,463 7/1967Zimmermann 297-342 3,057,658 10/1962 Winick 297-317 X 3,743,349 7/1973Crum 297-317 2,789,291 4/1957 Nock 5-47 2,270,172 1/1942 Ruegger 297-2162,725,921 12/1955 Markin 297-216 2,922,461 1/1960 Braun 297-2163,645,548 2/1972 Briner 297-216 3,284,134 11/1966 Malitte 297-3292,400,588 5/ 1946 McArthur 297-317 2,925,122 2/1960 Winick 297-3183,139,305 6/1964 Mizelle 297-317 3,252,734 5/1966 Berlin 297-3173,572,829 3/1971 Malitte 297-317 JAMES T. McCALL, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 297-259, 329, 383

